Castle Tryst, 06:00;

The Six Tigers looked at their sister quietly, from a distance, waiting for her to say something. She must've been hurt, they thought, to listen to what Xi Yuan had said to her before leaving. Even they'd found it wounding, his behavior.

As he watched the girl walk over to the center of the double staircase, gazing down at the confused and jittery lot of guests, Zhi Al clenched his teeth, rage taking over him at this point. "I am going to talk to Yuan.", he said, racing towards one of the two stairs, only to be stopped by Ningtao.

"His mother was shot!", the woman glared at her youngest Brother-in-law, "He is allowed to be unreasonable right now. It's his family, you guys."

"And Xinghe is ours.", Zhi Bo remarked, his tone much calmer than that of Zhi Al's still. Helplessly, Ningtao glanced at her husband, hoping for him to guide them all. Even she did not know how to come to a middle ground in such a scenario. It was too complicated, this situation.

The Superfamily would, of course, never accept the preposterous possibility of Rong Xinghe assaulting an innocent. They knew her too well to fall for that. But they couldn't stand against Xi Yuan here either, for the man had acted on nothing but his impulse earlier. He couldn't play blame games while his mother's life hung by a slim thread, now could he?

Comprehending the meaning behind his wife's gaze, Lu Wei cleared his throat, turning to the Five men, "It's a matter between husband and wife.", he said, his expression solemn, "We cannot interfere in that. Not unless she allows us to. Xinghe and Yuan are not kids anymore. We have to hold onto the belief that they can get through this.

"I realize that you have her best interests at heart right now.", he continued, looking at Zhi Al, "But Yuan is family too. And he is hurting as well. Of course, I am not suggesting to sit idly by while the Xis accuse her wrongly. Though, at this point, we have far too pressing matters to handle."

"What do you mean?", Zhi Xi furrowed his brows, confused.

"The entire palace was occupied by thousands of guests tonight. Including journalists and photographers.", Lu Wei elaborated his point, "Do you really think they would've cared for protocols after we rushed in here? We will have to control the media in case they get hold of something sensational before a thorough investigation for the matter is conducted.

"You know just as much as I do that Xinghe's reputation is at stake here. She was the only person with Mrs. Xi when it happened. Her firearm is right there on the bed. Even though there is no motive for her to harm her Mother-in-law, this is the 21st century. People would draw out their own conclusions in minutes. No one cares about the truth in this day and age, as long as there are gossips.

"But it's not Entertainment Industry she works in. It is Country X's Military. The consequences of such a scandal would be ten folds lethal for her career. We have to do whatever we can to shield her from the public eye. And so, we don't have time for confrontations with Yuan.

"If anything, we need to help the Xis. One of their own is in a life-threatening situation right now.", the man pointed out, eyeing Rong Xiao and Su Rogguang, his tone poised, "Not every surgeon in Country X is available at such early hours. So let's do what family does, first. We'll think of pride later."

As the men listened to their eldest brother's reasoning, they realized how short-sighted they were to let their indignation get the better of them. He was right. Xi Yuan was one of them now. He was supposed to have their back, through thick, and through thin.

Meanwhile, Rong Xinghe gestured William Young to join her, and as he did so, she whispered to him to wrap up the event smoothly. Sensing the exigency in her tone, the man nodded at her with a smile, pulling her in for a warm yet short hug. Although he did not know what was going on, he wished it would just end, the predicament in her eyes.

"Thank you.", the girl sighed, as the man turned to approach the guests below.

A minute after, she returned to her suite, her eyes on her phone. She browsed for his number and brought the device to her ear. It just rang. No answer. Inhaling a deep breath, she then walked over to the corner of the room, where all her luggage was put together. Picking out a Maroon backpack from them, she retrieved a pair of White Nitrile gloves next, putting them on.

Walking over to her bed then, she picked up the Smith & Wesson Magnum, carefully slipping it into a plastic zipper bag, snapping her fingers up in the air then. Seconds after, a team of armed soldiers stormed in, positioning behind the woman. Rong Xinghe then looked at them, passing them the bag.

"Take it to the Military Forensics.", she commanded them, her face void of any expression, "And tell them to examine the fingerprints on it. Also, ask Lieutenant Zhao to report to me."

"Yes, Ma'am.", the men bowed down, exiting the place moments after another man walked inside, toward the woman.

"Military Chief, it's Lieutenant Jackson Marshall on the line from Afghanistan.", he said, unbuttoning his suit, a smartphone in his hand, "It's a secure, untapped line, Ma'am."

"Not now, Officer.", the girl shook her head, looking at the device in hand instead. She called him again, and yet, no answer.

"You called for me, Military Chief?", a middle-aged man stepped in, smiling anxiously at the girl's brothers at the entrance.

"Yes, Lieutenant Zhao.", Rong Xinghe nodded, fixing her gaze at the man, "I need you to get all footages we have of this palace for the past one week. And I want you to look into one other matter too. My weapon, the Smith & Wesson Magnum. I need you to find out who placed it here. Inside my room, under the covers."

"Consider it done, Madam.", the man nodded, walking out of the suite next.

"Military Chief, Mr. Marshall insists you speak to him.", the young officer repeated himself, a bead of sweat trickling down his head.

Agitated, the girl dashed over to the man, snatching the phone from him, "You just cannot wait, can you?!", she roared at the Hybrid.

"Xinghe, Ahmed Ali Fadhil is in Kabul. Here.", the man on the other end spoke his piece, not caring for the girl's tone, "And he's planning something huge. Against Country X. Something of mass destruction. You need to fly out to Afghanistan. Like, right now."

A tad startled by the man's words, Rong Xinghe took a moment to weigh her priorities, at the moment. The Xis or the country. One life, or millions of them. Her marriage, or her oath. It was a choice she had to make, and she had to make it soon.

"I am on my way.", the woman decided in the end, letting out a shaky breath, as the Six Tigers exchanged stunned glances among themselves.